Tapestry

Q in his dalliances decides that he needs to invade Picard's space one more time and force him to live an incident in his life over one more time. There are opposing forces that are at work here. First of all, the whole immutability issue. Events are tightly connected to one another and random acts create random results. The opportunities and choices are not self determined with an eye toward the future. When Picard decides to avoid trouble with those bad guys, he now engages in a whole new randomness. He should be aware of this, but Q forces him to see what happens. The second may have more to do with opportunity than with integrity. His being just a dull starfleet anyone is an interesting result of his "inaction." Many factors, among those the prejudicial decision of someone in power could have just as much to do with this. Also, is one act a definition of a person; especially where one's heart is in the right place (so to speak). This is an inconsistent, though provocative, episode.

'Tapestry' hits on the very real (and almost universal) human trait of regret; that need to do it all again for a different outcome. And there is a distinctly Dickensian ring to this. But one of the reasons I think this episode is so effective is that it gives Q (somewhat the perpetrator of all of this) some serious dramatic weight. I have to admit, I've never been hot on the character; he's usually played impishly and for comedic effect. But here, his disgust with humanity is played beautifully, and De Lancie's scenes with Stewart are a pleasure.

The other reason is the pivotal turn - the wax-on, wax-off scene that brings it all together. Seeping Picard in science green and coasting on an adequate career is indeed jarring, and just about the clearest reminder that those things we regret are integral to who we are.

It's an incredibly potent episode.

9/10

I have been a Trekkie since I was 5 years old watching TNG with my dad in theaters. I remember taking this episode out of the library when I was around 8 years old. I really enjoyed it, but I didn't quite understand the meaning.

When I was 15 I started rewatching some Trek and came across this episode. At the time I wasn't really very ambitious. Was completely fine with staying home for college and perhaps going for a degree in teaching or similar. Low stress, easy lifestyle.

Then I saw this episode. Something inside clicked, like a flame that ignites on a pilot burner. I immediately started thinking about how I could have impact on society and what kind of path I want to choose. What would be the most rewarding?

So I decided to attend university away from home and take a big risk. Start my career in business. Fast forward another 7 years and I quit my lucrative job for that ambitious pursuit of wanting something grand in life, pursuing a full time MBA at a top university. Hoping to eventually have a role where I can have impact in society on a massive scale, even if it's only in 1 area. I can leave this planet better than I came. At least I would have a strong hand in it.

This episode is the reason I've become such an ambitious asshole, and I have no regrets so far. That quest for challenge and knowledge is so important to find young if that's something you want in life, especially if you come from a family of immigrants that was happy to simply survive.

If you are teacher or professor, I highly recommend showing this to students before graduating either high school or college. I don't think enough young people truly think about their careers and regret not thinking about their ambitions until much later in life.

This is one of my favorite Q episodes--and it's among my favorites of the series. Part of this is because of the excellent continuity with an earlier episode ("Samaritan's Snare") and part of it is because the show clearly shows that Q IS a friend to Picard and is clearly helping him.

When the show begins, Picard is dying as a result of some sneak attack. His fake heart has given out and the Doctor is trying desperately to keep him alive. Then, suddenly, Picard awakens and he's in what could be Heaven...that is until he sees that the part of God is being played by Q! Here Q is welcoming him to the afterlife, but Picard naturally believes that this is one of Q's tricks once again.

Over the course of the show, Q allows Picard to time travel back to his impulsive period just after he's graduated from Starfleet Academy. This is because this is a HUGE regret for Picard--when he got his original heart destroyed in a foolish fight with some Nausicaans (which was alluded to in the prior episode). Picard always felt ashamed of this incident and his stupid youth--yet through the course of many flashbacks to his past and present, Picard comes to realize that his mistakes actually made him a better man and better leader.

As I mention in the summary, this episode is highly reminiscent to Dickens' "A Christmas Carole" with Picard seeing alternate paths for his life. It ends much differently and has many wonderful moments (the best is when Picard awakens after a night of hot sex--you just have to see that one!). All in all, very memorable and a great episode about who the Captain really is down deep.

Captain Picard has a near death experience and revisits his younger life.

This is a great Picard backstory episode with an 'It's A Wonderful Life' concept.

The plot and themes reflect the choices an individual makes that shapes their life. It's impossible to watch it and not reflect on moments from your own past and wonder what if you'd done certain things differently. In this context, much like the episode 'The Inner light' it can be very poignant episode to watch (depending on the individual).

I cannot go into too many plot specifics without spoiling. However, it's safe to say there is a strong celebration of rugged individualism in the depiction of Picard's character and this is portrayed quite cleverly by his alternate life.

The presence of Q works very well and his cynically funny observations are delivered with great timing in all his scenes. Both John De Lancie and Patrick Stewart are in great form throughout the episode.